If your fish is not feeling energetic, no appetite is left, and if you observe a change in its coloring, she might be suffering from Popeye fish. Popeye is a wild disease in fish, and it is quite painful for this species. In this disease, a fish’s eye is swollen from the eye socket, which blurs the fish’s vision.
Popeye causes many deaths in fish and you must follow the required treatment to keep your fish away from this threatening disease. You can physically observe a Popeye by the shape and appearance of the fish. For example, it may be blurry or cloudy.
In this article, we will explain the disease and how you can keep your fish safe from it.
Signs of Popeye Disease in Aquarium Fish
The signs of Popeye fish diseases are not very common and obvious at the start, but as soon as the disease becomes threatening and causes pain, body coloring changes and your fish looks like it has no energy and feels no appetite. Here are some of the symptoms of Popeye fish:
- Fish eye socket starts expanding
- Discoloration or Pale coloring of the eyeball
- Body starts swelling
- Change in fish behavior
- Clamped fins
What is Bilateral Popeye?
Bilateral Popeye is a case in which both eyes of a fish are swollen and infected. This can be due to internal infection or improper outside water conditions, which infect the fins and surrounding parts of the eye and cause it to swell.
Common Causes of Fish Popeye
The most common cause of Popeye fish is exophthalmia. Exophthalmia is a technique in which swelling behind the eye tries to push the eye from inside, resulting in a Popeye.
The second most common cause of Popeye’s disease is trauma. In trauma, fish are damaged by the aquarium’s environment, which causes swelling in the eyes. If any of your fish is diagnosed with Popeye disease, check your water first.
Poor water conditions, improper supersaturation of gas in the water, and chemical changes in water cause infection in the whole aquarium. If you observe any bubbles in the water or on the skin of your fish, you must be careful as it may be a sign of Popeye disease.
The third common cause of Popeye fish can be diagnosed through fish kidneys or gills. If your fish kidneys are not functioning properly, they might start taking on excess water, which sticks out on the body and tissues behind the fish’s eyes. You must check up on your fish’s kidneys and make it functional before Popeye becomes threatening.
Another cause of Popeye is infection, which builds up from different virus-spreading organisms such as bacteria, fungi, or parasites.
The exact symptoms of this disease are not very obvious.
SUMMARY
Popeye is usually the result of a poor aquarium environment, exophthalmia, dust, infection, injury, or dirt particles. Disease may occur due to parasites, fungi, or bacteria. Check the quality of water first if any fish is diagnosed with Popeye.
How To Treat Popeye in Fish?
Popeye treatment is not easy if you haven’t identified the cause of this disease, and it becomes even more difficult when the cornea of fish is damaged. After the diagnosis, You will be required to maintain proper water conditions in the aquarium to save other fish. If the Popeye has been caused by any trauma, you will have to allow your fish to develop a secondary skin layer on its own, which may take some time.
In this case, you will also have to remove any decorations, such as sharp rocks and tiny plants, from the pool to avoid any further trauma. Sea salt also helps to heal the body where there is a trauma.
Following are some tested and recommended measures to cure Popeye.
1. Quarantine Infected Fish:
If you diagnose Popeye in any of your fish, keep it alone to avoid the spread of the virus and the danger of infection to other fish in the aquarium. Arrange optimal and medicated water conditions for the suffering fish to survive and get cured.
2. Check Water Conditions
The Popeye is mainly caused by improper water conditions. So, check your aquarium water and observe ammonia and nitrate levels in the water. Suppose these chemicals are not found in a proper proportionate. Do not change the water conditions like lighting and temperature. You must check the pH level of the water and maintain it to its standard level to provide a healthy environment for the fish.
3. Using Epsom Salt
Epsom is a mixture composed of oxygen, sulfur, and magnesium. For a long time, Epsom salt has been used as a cure for aquatic species. This salt is the best and timely cure for minor pains, aches, and other diseases. In the case of Popeye, it is used to reduce swelling, giving temporary relief to fish.
Using Epsom Salt in the case of Popeye
Add 2-3 teaspoons of Epsom salt in five gallons of water tank. This will act slowly, but within a few days, you will observe a reduction in swelling in the eye. Do not forget to observe your fish daily and observe the changes. This will also help you to maintain proper Epsom salt in the water.
4. Antibiotics for Bacterial Infections
If your fish has been diagnosed with a bacterial infection such as a kidney or gills infection, you will address antibiotics for the cure of this disease. You can use any aquatic antibiotics, such as broad-spectrum antibiotics and Baytril, for the treatment. Baytril is usually used for goldfish, and it has shown some exceptional results, but it can also be used for other fish.
These antibiotics are usually taken with food but can also be used as an outer gel to be applied to the skin of the fish.
The whole treatment can take many weeks, depending on the severity of the disease. But you should keep checking the infected fish. I recommend you check the water quality where it was infected and medicate it immediately to prevent other fish in the aquarium from getting the same disease.
How To Prevent Popeye Fish?
We have devised a four-part plan to help you prevent Popeye fish. These measures will help you maintain a proper and balanced water environment to provide a healthy environment for fish.
Feed A Vitamin Diet:
Always keep knowledge of your fish’s desired food. Because a healthy and balanced vitamin-rich diet will positively affect your fish’s health, keep it energetic, and strengthen its immune system. Different fish types have different food choices, but I recommend you check the following 2 points to understand your fish food choices.
For Herbivores:
- Plant-based flake food, which is enriched in probiotics
- Chemically generated frozen food
- Seaweed flakes and other sea vegetables
For Carnivornes and Omnivornes:
- Bloodworms. frozen silversides, kill worms and other insect-based seafood
- High protein flakes and other insect matter for better digestion
Reduce Stress Material From Aquarium
From aquatic animals, fish are very prone to stress. They can be frustrated by any environmental changes, reduction in light, or temperature change. Changes in water chemistry can result in stress and even the deaths of fish in the pool.
Poor tank mates for the aquarium will also result in behavioral changes in fish. They start losing their temper, and they become hidden more often.
Remove Improper Decor:
One of the major causes of Popeye’s disease is trauma caused by physical decor material in the pool. Always select safe decor for your fish to avoid injuries.
Some fish have very fancy and delicate fins, which are ruined by sharp decor material in the aquarium. Do not select sharp pebbles or plastic showpieces with sharp edges and gravel stones. Artificial plants like silk-based plants are beautiful and safe decor for your aquarium.
SUMMARY
A proper diet and good water conditions are necessary to prevent popeye. To reduce stress, use optimum lights and decorations in the aquarium. A calm environment keeps them protected from trauma.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Popeye in fish is one of the reasons of fish keep dying. You should diagnose the symptoms causing the disease in the fish and properly cure it to avoid any pain. Popeye can result in improper water conditions, poor water cleanliness, or unbalanced temperature in the aquarium. You should always provide a healthy water environment and avoid improper decor with sharp edges. Popeye can be treated with antibiotics, and the skin layer can be healed naturally in the case of trauma.